Description of The Norm Sample
The most recent statistical validation of the SEI-YV, version V3, is based on a sample size of n = 34312 dates from 2007 to the beginning of 2019. For statistical validation, the norm base was cleaned from bogus and outlier responses for optimal credibility, as it forms the baseline against which individual and group responses are standardized and compared, resulting in an effective norm base of size n = 24,043.
Ideally, we want the gender and age distribution to be closely equal in all categories and across different countries, which may be achieved with growing an even larger norm base over time, and by managing or encouraging specific projects. Currently, male-female distribution in the norm base shows a ratio of 1:1. In addition, female youth tends to be slightly older (peaking around 12- 13 years) than male youth (peaking around 10-11 years). The average age of the norm population is 12 years old. There are several hundred youth in each of the eight combined gender-age categories in the norm base, which allows for trustworthy statistical comparisons between them. The combined age and gender category distribution in the norm base is as follows:
Age Category | Percentage | Divided into Gender |
10 and under | 27.70% | of which 41.35% is female |
11-13 years old | 39.33% | of which 48.73.% is female |
14 and older | 32.97% | of which 50.73% is female |
Overall, 47.81% of the norm sample is female. | ||
The demographic characteristics and EQ performance of the norm population lead to the recommendation that score standardization should be based on the norm population in general, rather than being specific to gender and/or age category, until a future date when more research is available. For group reports and individual report comparisons where groups consist of both male and female youth, the use of general population norms are required.